It was our fifth wedding anniversary on Friday, and though I spent some time cooking a meal for us it was not eaten in the manner intended. My beloved came home from work on Friday evening feeling very icky. Not good when you have spent hours preparing a meal. So he tried to put on brave face and said "if I have a short nap maybe I will feel more like eating". So off he went to bed for a "short nap" That was at 7pm and the meal was ready then so I kept it warm for a while. At midnight after I had partaken of my own weight in chocolate and one or three cosmopolitans, up he gets, and though he couldnt mange the whole meal he was definatley feeling better. I should have taken photos of the chicken rolls stuffed with roasted red peppers and feta cheese, but the only photo I took was of the cheese bread I made.

It is my basic just my usual bread recipe, so here it is, just tarted up with some very tasty cheese.


Basic Bread Dough

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp dried yeast

1 tsp salt

1 tsp butter melted

1 cup water

1 cup milk

1/8 white pepper

Combine water and milk and warm in the microwave for one minute till warm but not hot.

Put the yeast in a large bowl with the sugar and add some of the water milk mixture and combine. Allow the yeast to bloom for about 10 - 15 minutes.

When the yeast has become frothy, add the melted butter and pepper and salt, a little more of the water, then gradually add the flour. This can be done either by hand or with an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook.

Add the water and milk gradually, till a soft dough has formed, then allow the mixer to knead the dough till it starts to leave the sides of the bowl cleanly. Depending on the humidity of your kitchen, you may not need all of the liquid....

Remove from the bowl and knead by hand for till it forms a ball of dough that is smooth but not tacky.

Put it an oiled bowl and cover with cling flim, and allow to rise for about 1-1 1/2 hours, till doubled in size.

After the dough has risen, remove the dough from the bowl and knead by for about five minutes. Then shape the dough as you like, and allow the dough to rise for a second time, for about 30 minutes.

While the dough is rising, heat the oven to 425f and bake the bread for about 30-40 minutes. The bread is done when a hollow sound is heard when you knock on the bottom of the loaf.

To make the cheese bread, after the first rise, roll out the dough to make a rectangle shape as to about half an inch thick. You may have to allow it to rest a time or two as it will want to pull back. When you have done this, sprinkle two cups of your favourite grated cheese over the dough, leaving one egde to without the cheese. Brush the edge with beaten egg and roll up the rectangle as though making sausage rolls, then cut into two inch peices and place on a baking tray, cut side up, with the sides of the rolls touching. Cover with a tea towel and allow to rise for about 30 minutes. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds, then bake in a 425f prehated oven for about 25-30 minutes

The time of the Year

In the summer we get a lot of hummingbirds visit us, and lately we have had a bunch of them. So many in fact we filled the feeders twice in one week, I beleive we must be on their migratory path south. They are so pretty, I wish I was able to get a better picture of them. But they do move so fast.

I havent written about what I have been cooking lately, but thats because its either been eaten up so fast and I didnt get my camera fast enough, or it hasnt been pretty enough. I am not talented enough to get things to look pretty enough for the camera. More often it looks like a banger has gone off in my food, but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in flavour. Bit like me really.

I made this on Monday and I will list what went into it but Im afaid I didnt measure anything. I know its terrible, but this way you can tailor it to your tastes. I called it "spicy pork stir fry" I was able to get some really nice pork steaks at Walmart the other day, and I think pork goes so well with chinesey flavours.





SPICY PORK STIR FRY

Marinade
dark soy sauce
sesame oil
orange juice
tomatoe ketchup
4 garlic cloves
chopped fresh ginger
red pepper flakes

2 pork steaks
broccoli
carrots
onions
red and green peppers
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon corn flour

Make the marinde by combining all ingredients in a ziplock bag, squeezing the bag to combine everything. Add the pork steaks, and refrigerate over night.

Prepare all the vegetables by chopping into bite size peices.

Mix corn flour with a little water.

Remove the pork from the marinade, and set aside the marinade to use later. Grill the pork till almost done, then remove from the grill and allow to rest for ten minutes.

Slice the pork in to slices.

Put oil in the wok and when the oil shimmers its time to add the pork to the pan, let it cook for about 5 mins then add the vegetables, continue to cook till the pork is done and veggies are still crisp but cooked.

Add the marinade and combine, then thicken with the corn flour.

Sleepless in Stillwater

Well its one of those nights, you know the kind. You are lying in bed thinking about everything, and your mind is going in a hundred different directions all at once. Not condusive to sleep at all. Im not worried about anything though there are some major things happening right now. The main one Im unable to disclose right now, or else I would have to kill you.

The next biggest thing is my daughter Turi and her boyfriend Mark, coming to visit. Though its not for a few weeks yet, I am really excited. I have started to think about what I need to do before they arrive. Yet all I can think about is the first time I set eyes on her. I keep playing scenarios of greeting her for the first time, this only helps to build the excitement. Hence no sleep, I hope I get this out of my system, or Im going to one hell of a wreck by the time she gets here.

They are flying into Memphis and spending some time there, doing the Graceland and Beale Street thing, and Bob and I will be there a couple of days later to pick them up. Cant wait to see them.

This photo is one of Turi, she has a certain sense of style as you can see. She often would dress up in the strangest of getups. This day it was a warm summers day yet she felt it neccesary to get so wrapped up. Dont you think the dummy really sets it off. I know she will kill me if she sees this.

The other one is Turi again, obvouisly in monster mode, it was Halloween and her brother was getting dressed for a party as a vampire. Turi wanted to get in on the act. I thought she had a certain style to her. I am in such big trouble!! Bit tis worth it.

I thought Id show you all some more pictures of Colorado. The first one is taken at the cabin we stayed in. It has a river running by it, so lovley.

Then there is the new John Denver!!! He did a cowboy singalong in Estes Park, he was great.


This is another one taken by the cabin from the hot tub. It was so relaxing and the tempratures were cool, so much nicer than Oklahoma at this time of year.


I was talking to Sue (of "Back to the Table" blog) today and we talked about things on our blog. While talking to her I reminded of another occasion were a case of the giggles got me into trouble. Sue suggested I write about this on here for you all to have a giggle at. I hope you all do. I certainley did.



The story of Edward Cairns.

I was about nine years old and attending St Vincents RC School, I was in Mrs Hughes class and though a very nice person, her sense of humour left a lot to be desired. At least I thought so! The class was busy, we had all been given time to draw and colour pictures, obviously Mrs Hughes was in a good mood or just wanted a break for a class of thirty nine nine year olds. Everyone was chatting away and being really well behaved for a change, when all you could hear was Mrs Hughes voice screaming above the whole class, "YOU STUPID BOY, YOU STUPID BOY" . She had hold of Edward Cairns by the scruff of the neck, like a dog trying to kill a rabbit. Edward just hung there all red faced, with Crayola Crayons of various colours sticking out of his nose and ears!! Mrs Hughes was howling "children" She screeched "you should never do this with crayons!"!! That was it for me, I was useless, I laughed till I cried and of course I was the first one to see the funny side of it. Eventually the whole class erupted. Even now I have this picture in my head that has stayed with me for all these years, and now while I am typing this tears are running down my face. I just cant help myself. Poor Edward, if you ever read this I hope you forgive me for laughing, its an affliction Im stuck with.. Dont think there is a cure for this...

Grizzly Adams we are not!!!

We got back from our trip to Colorado at seven thirty pm on Saturday, I say Colorado but we detoured to Wyoming to visit Bobs brother Joe who lives in Laramie. It was only about an hour and a half away from where we were at Fort Collins, in Colorado. It would have been a sin not to go and see them even though we were so tired it was good to go and spend some time with Joe, Enid and Josh there son. Their other son Adam was gone, but it was good to see them anyway.

It was my first visit to the mountains and it didnt disapoint. It lived up to all I had heard about it, and though I have some photos here, they dont do it justice. The total majesty and vastness of it all is just so hard to put into words, I hope everyone gets to see this at some time in there life.

Quirky Things!!!!

Ok here are my six, Im keeping this brief, Im so tired after our trip.

1. My hair colour is very natural. (it says so on the box)

2. I love to sing but I sound like a nightingpig. When I have partaken of a bevvy or five, I beleive I can sing like a Aretha, so if you are ever at a Kareoke with me, never let me have the mic.

3. I dont eat fish.........Bleh............

4. Im a dog person, I like cats but dogs are my favourite pets.

5. My guardian Angel is called Greta.

6. I often find thngs funny that others dont, often at most embarrising times. Like seeing Ann Lackenbie sneeze during the Hail Mary and she didnt have a hanky. (I can still see that lace curtain) I know its gross but she was such a snob it couldnt have happened to a nicer person, it didnt go down well with the nuns. but Im sure I saw Sister Augustine having a chuckle too.